Spencer remarks on how the franchise is a great addition to the Xbox games portfolio, speaking to the effect that Microsoft hopes this will be their answer to the Uncharted franchise Sony has via Naughty Dog. To quote IGN's article directly:

"I'm a big fan of Uncharted, and I wish we had an action adventure game of that ilk. We've started some, and we've looked at them. But we don't have one today of that quality. This is an opportunity," he said. "... When you think about our portfolio, if it was a sci-fi shooter, I probably wouldn't do that! I've got one of those! Or if it's a Gears competitor, or a Forza competitor, there are things I wouldn't go after. But this is one that clearly fit in our portfolio really well."

Before we get into my predictions of what will happen to the Tomb Raider franchise, let's talk about Microsoft for a moment.

My Changing View of Microsoft

I have had a pessimistic view of Microsoft as a company in general, and have been critical of the Xbox One since its reveal. In discussions, friends and I remarked how forcing the Kinect on everyone with a $100 markup on their console was a bad idea. Microsoft made bad pitches and arguments for the Kinect, a piece of technology that has a shifty track record and a lackluster games catalog. However, Microsoft listened to fans (and the $$$, let's be honest) and made the difficult decision to cut the Kinect. They gave the choice back to the gamers to opt in or out.

As with the first iteration of any console, the Xbox One has had some bumps in the road to recover from. Many things have been smoothed out via updates with the promise of a constantly evolving and improving games console. Microsoft listened once again to the gamers and has started providing the features that we wanted, not just the ones that Microsoft thought we'd want, and just not know it yet.

I sold my Xbox 360 over a year ago because I was done with Microsoft IPs after playing through Halo 4. I'd played Gears of War and Halo and Alan Wake. In the end, I remember little of my experiences with the console. A tiny moment in Gears 3 here, a tiny moment in Halo 4 there, and some fun times playing Dance Central with friends (Alan Wake was totally underrated in my book though -- excellent game). The 360 was seemingly centered around one thing: online multiplayer experience. That I could care less for. I see no value in it personally -- that's just my opinion. My lasting impression of the 360 was that it was a console that catered to shooters, sports and racers; basically anything that could be played online. In a word, the 360 was all about the "dudebro."

I owned a 360 before I owned a PS3 and played them side-by-side. In the end, I got more variety, better story, and greater value out of my time with the PS3. I became a fan all over again of the Sony franchises that I enjoyed growing up with as a kid. I fell in love with some new ones as well. Whenever I got tired of one game, there was always another to enjoy on the PS3. That was my experience with it.

Microsoft is at a bit of a disadvatage compared to Sony; they don't have nearly as many developers in their pockets. They don't have the variety of games. They stuck with what would help them sell consoles and games to the majority of the male gamer demographic. But Microsoft has realized that if they are going to truly compete with Sony, they have to branch out. They have to expand their games catalog and their developer base. Microsoft listened to gamers who wanted a variety of experiences on their console. They have to change their "dudebro" image. Just re-read the quote from Phil Spencer above -- you can tell that he knows it too.

Microsoft is doing that. Now they headline the indie games coming to the Xbox One. They have frontlined games like Ori and The Blind Forest, a game so incredibly different from what Microsoft is used to promoting. I applaud them for it. I still don't want an Xbox One at the moment, but they are winning me over slowly.

Putting On My Nostradamus Hat... The Future of Tomb Raider

So here we are: present day. Microsoft has scored a deal with Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix for Rise of the Tomb Raider. They only get a timed exclusive for the release. I believe that was a smart move made by Square and CD. They will get more sales out of the game this way. However, this is were the speculation on the future begins.

I think that Rise of the Tomb Raider will sell fairly well, but I would be surprised if the PS4 version outsold the Xbox One version. Xbox fans want their exclusive badly -- they too are dying for something new to play, but also for an experience they can't normally find on the Xbox One. They'd have to fork out additional money for the PS3/PS4 and play Uncharted (which I would highly recommend they do, but I'm trying to see things from both sides of the equation here). PS4 fans will have their Uncharted 4 and may not be looking for a game of similar flavor upfront. In the end, I predict that Xbox One fans will buy more copies of the game, followed by PC goers, followed by PS4 gamers. Perhaps SE/CD already know this and are not planning to bring the game to the PS4 at all. Sony's Shuhei Yoshida has no idea if it will be a thing or not, but seems to believe that it will be coming to the PS4: "If you're a marketing person at Square Enix and projecting your sales for the game, if it doesn't come out on PS4, it must be lots of units that have to be covered by some means."

This will make for good sales and the continuation of the Tomb Raider franchise reboot. At this point, Microsoft will point to the sales and tell SE and CD that they should make the franchise purely exclusive to the Xbox One (and maybe PC later). They may attempt to buy CD outright from SE or they may strike a second-party deal. Microsoft will offer more than just money this time around though. The Halo Channel and Xbox One TV show are bound to be successful, and Microsoft will want to grow the brand more. They will offer to help SE and CD grow the franchise with an actual Tomb Raider show, perhaps even starring Camilla Luddington, the actress that does the voice acting and motion capture for the Tomb Raider reboot games.

Square Enix hasn't been doing so hot as a company lately. This may be one of the reasons why Kingdom Hearts III, a previous Sony exclusive (with some smaller outings for Nintendo), will be appearing on the Xbox One as well, likely with a re-release of the 1.5 and 2.5 ReMix games for the Xbox One. We saw nothing from Square Enix at E3 2014 with the exception of the Rise of the Tomb Raider teaser trailer. Again, same thing at Gamescom. Square Enix will probably take the deal -- they'd be dumb not to, in my opinion. They may, in the future, even offload the franchise to Microsoft in a lucrative deal -- though that seems more likely 6 to 10 years down the road.

The Tomb Raider franchise will blossom under Microsoft's wing because they want it so badly. Meanwhile on the PS4, Uncharted 4 will bring that series to an end. In the future, if PS4 gamers want that kind of action/adventure experience, they'll have to convert to the Xbox One. A second iteration of the Xbox One will probably be out by that point in the future. Heck, the third Tomb Raider may even become an Xbox One bundle. The partnership with Square Enix will be successful insomuch that it may open up more MS/SE deals in the future. We will see new IPs born out of Crystal Dynamics exclusively for Xbox One, and in turn the developer will experience sizable growth.

The net result will be that we fans of the Tomb Raider franchise will get more Tomb Raider content and games, and we'll be happy with their success. The deal to make the third Tomb Raider game purely exclusive will weed out the true Tomb Raider fans from the Microsoft haters. However that deal will be less controversial than what has gone down with Rise of the Tomb Raider in the past couple weeks.

In Summary

I see Microsoft finally listening to their gamers and fans. "We want different experiences. We want characters and stories we'll love." Microsoft will finally be able to add a female action protagonist to their ranks of bros. When all is said and done, it was a smart deal for Microsoft, a promising deal for Crystal Dynamics, and a much needed deal for Square Enix. Sony and their host of developers will find other IPs to pursue to fill the gap that the Uncharted franchise will leave behind. Surely Naughty Dog is already hard at work on it.

But who knows? I look at Microsoft's growing games portfolio and I'm hopeful for the Xbox One. Microsoft might just be listening enough to what we want that I will find a home in my TV console once again for both Sony and Microsoft. We as gamers will be reaping the benefits of a promising generation of gaming over and over again.

What do you guys think? Are my predictions on the nose or completely off-base? What are your hopes for the Tomb Raider franchise? For Microsoft and the Xbox One? Let's discuss it all in the comments below.

It's been a crazy past few weeks here in sunny Anaheim, CA. The job search continues in earnest, which is really stressful at the moment since I'm eating into my savings. Last week my discussion post on new-gen consoles was featured on the IGN Blog Community and comments are still trickling in. I wanted to thank each and every one of you who contributed to the community discussion in consyructive ways. Even my opinions on new-gen were shaaped by your insight, which is what I want! I feel the discussion there was a success and I hope to continue to have such great discussions with you in the future.

I know that my last installment of "Video Games as Emotional Therapy" is long overdue. If you've been reading and following that series, you know that it is a labor of love that I pour my heart and soul into. Somewhat because of that, and the paramount importance of finding a job, progress has been very slow. I think I've finally found the angle that I'm happy with and can continue writing where I left off. It will come soon.

Lastly, thank you for your support. I appreciate all of you who follow me and contribute to our wonderful MyIGN community. Keep up the awesome!

On to the discussion...

Today at Gamescom, Microsoft and Crystal Dynamics shocked many of us with news that Rise of the Tomb Raider is now an Xbox One exclusive. Many, manypeopleare upset about this news (just try and read the comments). Crystal Dynamics released an official statement on Tumblr about their decision:

Dear Tomb Raider Community,

As you may have seen, we've just announced that Rise of the Tomb Raider, coming Holiday 2015, is exclusively on Xbox. We consider all of you to be the lifeblood of Tomb Raider and the work we do at Crystal. I'd like to give you some insight into this decision, and why we feel this is the very best thing for the Tomb Raider sequel we're creating at the studio.

Tomb Raider in 2013 was a success due in large part to your continued support. Our goal has always been to deliver something truly special with Rise of the Tomb Raider. Today's announcement with Microsoft is one step to help us put Tomb Raider on top of action adventure gaming. Our friends at Microsoft have always seen huge potential in Tomb Raider and have believed in our vision since our first unveil with them on their stage at E3 2011. We know they will get behind this game more than any support we have had from them in the past - we believe this will be a step to really forging the Tomb Raider brand as one of the biggest in gaming, with the help, belief and backing of a major partner like Microsoft.

This doesn't mean that we're walking away from our fans who only play on PlayStation or on PC. Those are great systems, with great partners, and amazing communities. We have Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris coming to those platforms this December, and Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition is available on PS4.

We know that there are probably many more questions and concerns. Please do send them to us, and we'll answer to the best of our ability. Meanwhile we're going all out to try and make something truly special - the most ambitious Tomb Raider game ever built.

Thanks,

Darrell Gallagher Crystal Dynamics Head of Studios

Fans have speculated, and I believe correctly, that the situation was this: the Tomb Raider reboot reviewed well, but didn't push as many units as Squre Enix and Crystal Dynamics would have wanted. The reboot cost quite a bit of money to make and while profitable, they believe that it could have done better. Some of that problem was with the promotion of Tomb Raider which seemed like a mad rush right before launch. Reviews were published early to help bolster pre-orders and sales. It wasn't enough. Yet, because there was enough success a sequel was expected. Microsoft steps in and offers them a bunch of money to make it exclusive, with the promise of additional, free advertising. Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix accept and here we are.

None of that is proven entirely correct yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was mostly right. Crystal Dynamics gets the money and the exposure they want for the game, but at the cost of it becoming an exclusive on Xbox One.

On the surface, it seems that fans could be upset about a number of things. "I'm PlayStation loyal. Now I won't get to play Tomb Raider again." "Cystal Dynamics sold out."

That's not what really has upset the fans though. What has fans upset is that here we have a new, exciting reboot of a franchise that many of us grew up with. Whether we played it on computer, or PlayStation, or Xbox once the reboot occured, we grew attached to the franchise -- to Lara Croft and her story. Especially with the reboot, we have the birth of a new Tomb Raider that could be experienced on any console or PC. We dropped money on it, enjoyed it, got invested in it.

We expected that the sequel would be no different; a multiplatform game. Instead, Microsoft and Crystal Dynamics have taken all of our collective interest in the next chapter in Lara's story and are trying to convert it into console sales.

That is what we are upset about. We are not all made of money. Some of us bought Xbox One or are planning to and they'll no doubt enjoy the game, which I assume will be great. But some of us bought PS4 or gaming PCs, or are planning to. We saw a teaser for Rise of the Tomb Raider at E3 2014 with zero indication that it would be exclusive. Loyalists and fans of the franchise now feel alienated. We must buy into Microsoft if we want to experience the next chapter in Lara's story.

If this were a new IP from Crystal Dynamics, there would be no backlash. If the Tomb Raider reboot didn't happen when it did, and today that reboot was annouced as an exclusive for Xbox One, there would be very little real backlash (let's be honest, there will always be some fanboy backlash).

Expectation and emotion. We, the gamers, feel that our emotions are being toyed with by taking a multiplatform game of a beloved franchise and making its sequel an exclusive. At E3 we get a teaser trailer that does not reveal its exclusivity, and once again expectation and emotion build. To pull the rug out from under the majority of the gamers interested in this sequeal now is being described as "business" but feels a lot more like "betrayal."

Do we have the right as fans to be upset? Well, not really. We don't own the franchise or the rights to the sequel, but that won't stop us from feeling entitled to a multiplatform Tomb Raider sequel. Did Crystal Dynamics lead us on with the expectation of multiplatform? Kind of, but officially no. Will Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix listen to the upset fans? Very doubtful. The same frustration and resentment sparked when Bayonetta 2 became a Wii U exclusive, but people have calmed down about it for the most part. Chances are high that Microsoft won't let Crystal Dynamics, or Rise of the Tomb Raider, go so easily. It is a much bigger franchise than Bayonetta, and could even spark more exclusive Microsoft entertainment advantages. In the same sense that Microsoft is getting a Halo TV show, this could be a partnership that leads to more Tomb Raider entertainment content (movie reboot, TV show, etc.). That might not be such a bad thing in the long run, but we, the miffed gamers of today, will have to wait and see.

Me? I hope that fans make enough noise to make Rise of the Tomb Raider a timed exclusive. It would help Crystal Dynamics sales of the game to make it multiplatform (logically). At the very least, Microsoft would be stupid to at least not make it a timed exclusive with later relase to PC. In that event, I as a fan of the franchise would be placated. Even still, there will be a lot of upset Sony loyals out there who don't have the money for two gaming platforms.

What do you think? Do gamers have a right to be upset over the new exclusivity of the Tomb Raider franchise? Why?

Hey everyone! By way of update I am writing my next part in my series on Video Games as Emotional Therapy, but progress is slow for various reasons. I hope that I will have it done and posted sometime before or during the weekend.

In the meantime, my friend Mike Myatt and I made time to FINALLY complete our first podcast episode and our first video! We may still be learning the tech but we're proud of what we have to share with you.

While we strive to provide you with stimulating discussion, interesting news you may have missed and more than a few laughs, we want to make this podcast more about YOU. Do you have gaming ideas, news, discussion topics and jokes to share? Share them with us and we'll PROMOTE YOU in our podcast! While we'll always have plenty to talk about, submissions for any of our pieces are encouraged.

Press Pause 2 Play podcasts:

Introductions!

Rapid 1-2: We give literal 7 second updates of our lives with one good and one bad thing that happened to us during the week.

Good, Bad, Ugly: Mike gives us the week's (most often ridiculous) popular gaming news...and quickly turns it from good, to bad and then downright ugly.

Between the Lines: Nathan shares a few interesting gaming news stories from the week that you probably missed.

Game Reviews: Shared when we have them. Reviews from multiple gamers and perspectives. No number ranking system; just simple and honest.

...and a new, incredibly annoying, royalty-free song at the end of every episode!

In our first episode, we discuss Shaq Fu's upcoming sequel, a study that proves that MMORPG players aren't antisocial (duh), Candy Crush dev King's first (terrible) day on the Stock Exchange, why most Steam users don't finish their games, review Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode 2 (spoiler free!) and why too much speculation surrounding the departures at Sony and Naughty Dog studios is more harmful than helpful to the gaming community as a whole.

Listen, enjoy, comment and become part of the podcast! This one is for YOU!

Listed below here is our first Youtube video game discussion called "On the Road with Mike and Nate." Mike and I have many gaming conversations in the car and so we decided to record one and post it. In this one we discuss Watch Dogs use of implied sexual abuse and human trafficking.

I'm not sure how long we'll be able to keep up the videos since in the near future I graduate from college and will be moving away, but we are completely committed to upkeeping the podcast while we move out and into the world since the internet is such a wonderful thing.

We look forward to your comments and suggestions. Anything we can do to improve, engage you more as a listener or viewer, and any submissions you would like to make for our podcast or videos, please let us know! We want this to be something that you can all enjoy and get something new from.

Thanks for all of your support so far! Be sure to throw my amazing audio/video editor, great commentator, hardcore gaming partner-in-crime and best friend Mike a bone with a follow and some comments on his blog HERE!

With the IGN staff posting their favorite games of all time, and with my fellow friend doing the same, I had to put a list together. The whole process turned out to be very therapeutic for me as I recounted my experiences. In short, I wrote a lot (Ha ha!). A truly surprising amount really, but it's because I began to realize something that makes games special.

We don't realize how much gaming affects our lives until we sit back and reflect, as I did with this list. Wonderful memory after wonderful memory resurfaced as I started compiling and ranking my favorite games. The whole exercise to me became much more than ranking favorites and became more like a love letter to the gaming and game developing community. More so than before, I am grateful to have had these gaming experiences and must offer a blanket "thank you" to all those people who made these experiences possible. That includes my friend's parents for buying the majority of the consoles and games that I ended up enjoying as a kid until I was old enough to purchase my own. Many important pieces of my identity and who I have grown up to become have found their roots in these games.

It's been a great journey for me and for the gaming industry as I reflect on my years as a gamer. Recent years, as you'll see in the list, have made for some of the best moments in the medium. Here's to hoping that the memorable games and experiences will keep rolling forward, onward and upward.

Cheers.

- Nathan Cross (a.k.a. MediaMonster)

MediaMonster's Top 20 Favorite Games

[This is a list of my favorite games of all time. That isn't to say that this is a perfect list or reflects the actual game's reception and importance. It only reflects its importance to me, and that is importance enough. Also, when it comes to gaming series that I love, I (mostly) cheated and lumped them together. I usually like to view them as one whole experience. Call it lazy or whatever you will, but I couldn't separate most of them out.

The information following the title explains what platform(s) I played the game on and the game's release year. Links are to the IGN reviews for the game, if they exist. If not, the link will direct you to the game's Wikipedia entry. Enjoy!]

20. Mario Kart: Double Dash! (Nintendo GameCube – 2003): Adding a co-op twist on the competitive racer that was Mario Kart was the most innovative move ever for the genre in a long time. You and a friend controlled one kart; one drove while the other handled the weaponry. However there were so many little co-op mechanics built into it: the ability to switch at points so you could each exploit each other’s strengths and compensate for each other’s weaknesses, the ability to simultaneously synchronize your control movements to enable huge speed boosts, and so on. It was bold and incredibly fun to master. My friend Mike and I became so good at Double Dash that we could speed boost through whole levels non-stop. We developed strategies on how to hold the awkward GameCube controllers to maximize our driving and support roles across various levels. We smoked our competition and no one wanted to play against us. In the end, Nintendo didn't sell as well on the GameCube as they had hoped, and so died one of the greatest racing games of all time. One can only hope for an eventual comeback in the near future.

When I say that we got good, we got THIS good

19. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (SNES - 1992): When I spent the night at my friend Landon’s house, it didn't matter that Mario Kart 64 and Super Smash Bros was waiting to be played or this brand new thing called Halo. Before any of that was to be addressed, we HAD to play the entirety of TMNT: Turtles in Time on the SNES. It was the game that, in an odd way, most closely resembled our childhood friendship: a group of four guys with four favorite characters (Donatello will forever be the greatest!) fighting through hordes of enemies together, taking down bosses we’d grown up watching on the TV show all leading up to Shredder – a truly difficult fight on the hardest settings. We bonded like a band of brothers across dozens of play-throughs and I will forever look back on those nights with a smile. Cowabunga!

Jump to 13:30 for one of my favorite boss battles ever...throwing Footsoldiers at the screen!

18. Final Fantasy Series – FFVII, FFVIII & FFIX (PSOne – 1997-00): The series I am referring to is the PSOne series (VII, VIII, and IX). All were fantastic games that pushed the hardware of its time from sequel to sequel with visible improvements. FF was the gaming epic of my day. A game that was 4 discs long?! And yet there was little to no filler – all of it was so continuously magical. The stories of these three games were wonderful, the characters forever part of my childhood and in the end Final Fantasy brought me and my group of friends who played it together. Even today, I find it funny how many people I can quickly bond with by merely mentioning these games.

The moment that took away my childhood gaming innocence...

17. Kingdom Hearts Series – KHI & KHII (PS2 – 2002-2005): Disney meets Final Fantasy. It should have been a complete and utter disaster and yet it became one of my all-time favorite games. A JRPG with an active battle system and switchable party members; it was different from any other RPG I had played up to that point. I knew I loved Disney, but I never knew how enjoyable it could be to fight alongside some of my childhood Disney heroes or explore their respective worlds. Once I figured out the Gummi Ship system, I looked forward to fighting through the space between planets with my pimped-out star fighter. Not to mention the wonderfully climactic boss fights throughout, including Maleficent, followed by her monstrous dragon form. It was a spectacle to watch it all play out on my TV set. The overarching story of Kingdom Hearts itself is pretty convoluted, but that doesn't mean that KH is not worth the hundreds of hours you can sink into it.

"Night on Bald Mountain" in Fantasia terrified me as a kid. I finally got to put Chernabog in his place in KH. See, games are good for children -- all biased child psychology be damned!

16. Pokémon Series – Blue, Red & Yellow (Nintendo GameBoy – 1998-99): I've played a lot of Pokémon over the years. Things may have “improved” and some of the more complicated parts of the series today offer a good challenge, yet it’s the originals (Blue, Red and Yellow) that best stand the test of time and have cemented this IP in the annals of gaming history. I sunk countless hours into building up my team and fighting friends with the old school GameBoy cables. Later on when Pokémon Stadium showed up on the N64, I was able to see my Pokémon dream team come to life with glorious animation. An overall wonderful experience and big part of my childhood.

My first introduction to how broken cheat codes and exploits can be: Missingno

15. Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt (NES - 1988): Initially what drew me to the NES was being able to use a gun accessory to shoot something on the TV. It blew my mind as a kid and I loved every chance I had to play. Combo that with the addictive and amazing original Super Mario Bros. and there was no better way to kill time sitting inside a house as a child with friends.

For your enjoyment: Meta-commentary on violence in games

14. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSOne – 1997): Another game that I played and sunk hours and hours into. Even after the PS2 came out, I was still playing Castlevania: SOTN. The perfect example of the MetroidVania gameplay that has been making such a comeback in games as Guacamelee!, the recent Tomb Raider reboot and the excellent Batman Arkham series. I’ll never lose that sense of enjoyment I had exploring the endless halls and chambers of Dracula’s Castle.

If you think this speed run is disgusting, then you haven't seen this near infuriating Dark Souls speed run

13. Portal Series - Portal & Portal 2 (PS3 – 2007-11): I love puzzles. I love story. I love sarcasm. Therefore I love Portal. It really is as simple as that. Valve made a short game to help market the Orange Box collection with Half-Life 2 and Team Fortress 2 and created a new IP by mistake. Continuing on in Portal 2, GLaDOS remarks become more cutting, the humor and writing more witty, the music better and suddenly there’s co-op puzzles that get even more complicated? Testing has never been so much fun.

One of MANY favorite quotes from this series!

12. The Walking Dead: Season 1 (PS3 – 2012): I was one of the first in my family and in my group of friends to watch The Walking Dead on TV. As far as I know, I’m the only one of them who has read the comics up to its latest release. When I heard that TaleTell Games was going to make a Walking Dead game, I was speculative. The TV show hadn't really lived up to the potential in the comic (and still hasn't) and licensed games have a terrible history as well. Not long after the reviews started coming in for the game however, people were talking. It generated so much buzz that I felt left out. Pretty soon I downloaded the demo and saw what people were talking about. I had the good sense to wait until all the episodes were out (I can't imagine the wait between Ep. 3, 4 & 5...) and then bought a copy for my friend Mike as a birthday gift. Once it was on the screen, we were engrossed. As roommates would come in the house, many found themselves helplessly drawn to the conflict on screen. People argued over the choices that should be made getting progressively louder as the decision timer was running short. When I got my own copy I tore into it and loved every second even though I knew, with the exception of some differing changes in decision, what was going to happen in the story. Few games make you feel the import of your decisions and then come back to haunt you later. The game even has a way of making you feel guilty and defensive over your easily justifiable decisions! It’s a fantastic game and I look forward to when Season 2 ends so that I can play all of them back to back. Not to mention The Wolf Among Us, the new Borderlands project that they’ve started on and whatever else TaleTell does from here on out.

Even the DLC "400 Days" was pretty amazing

11. Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Nintendo GameBoy - 1993): My first exposure to the Zelda series was on the original green screen GameBoy. I can’t believe how simple yet addictive this game became; obsession-level towards its end. I remember playing through the adventure twice because I enjoyed it so very much.

I watched this terrible commercial twice because it dumbfounds me

10. Ratchet & Clank Series - R&C, GC, UYA, R:D, F:ToD, F:QfB, F:ACiT, A4O, FFA & ItN (PS2/PS3 – 2002-13): One of the greatest dynamic duos to grace the PlayStation, Ratchet and Clank can win over anyone easily. With all the charm and humor of a Saturday morning cartoon and all the creativity of the talented Insomniac Studios, Ratchet & Clank have been a part of my gaming experience across 10 (!) games (only counting the ones I've played) and 12 (!) years. To say that I love these guys is an understatement. Yet there's more to love with all the inventive weapons of the series, picking up where games like Armed and Dangerous left off. Mr. Zurkon and his endless witty sayings, the Qwack-O-Ray that turns enemies into harmless ducks, the suck cannon that makes the nearest bad guy ammunition against his buddies, the massive and hilariously named Negotiator, and then endless iterations of the timeless RYNO (Guaranteed to Rip You a New One!). It is worth mentioning that my favorite RYNO is the RYNO V, which not only fires a torrent of bullets and homing rockets simultaneously, but also plays the 1812 Overture while firing (note the video below). Nothing quite compares to the glee one feels when pulling the trigger, hearing that song and watching all the enemies on your screen explode. For that, we have Ratchet & Clank to thank.

The video showcases two other fun weapons during the first part, but whips out the RYNO at 1:00. Enjoy!

9. Thief: The Dark Project (PC – 1998): I had to include this in my top games if only for one reason: I love stealth games, and this was the game that not only got me started, but the entire stealth genre. My uncle passed down a copy of Tomb Raider III to me as a kid and it came with an Eidos demo disk that included Final Fantasy VII and Thief: The Dark Project. I got bored/frustrated with Tomb Raider at a certain point, installed the demo disk and played Thief -- and played and played. I played the living crap out of that demo, over and over again. It never got old – finding new ways to handle the various situations, seeing how much I could steal and discovering new areas. Eventually I had to get my hands on a copy. Water arrows to put out torches, lock picks for looting sealed goods, a blackjack for knocking out people who come to check on the noise, the dynamic shadow-hiding system. Nowadays, inspiration for other stealth games has evident Thief stamps all over them (especially games like Dishonored). The newest Thief reboot is truly a shame stain upon an otherwise glorious IP run. Stealth games owe a lot to Thief – here’s hoping that the series will continue on again and steal back its rightful place as king of its genre.

Teaser trailer from E3 1997! Did you know E3 started in '95? That makes the expo 20 years old next year!

8. Shadow of the Colossus [HD re-release with Ico] (PS3 – 2011): I did not get the opportunity to play this game until I already owned a PS3, at which point I made a note to pick up the HD re-release. A fantastically beautiful game about sacrifice and taking down some of the largest creatures I’d ever seen in gaming up until this point. The slow, literally uphill battle to scale these monsters, find their weak spots and exploit them with my feeble sword and arrows; the oddly inescapable sadness of slaying these awe-inspiring beasts one by one, yet motivated to put them down for true love, all the while sacrificing my character’s very soul…the game is elegant and beautiful. There is no other gaming experience quite like it. Highly recommended.

Just watching the trailer again still gives me chills

7. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PS3 – 2013): This is a game that I actually completed while making this list. In fact I had very nearly published this list before I played and I am grateful that I waited, whatever the reason was. Without giving too much away, this game is the perfect example of how to make game controls meaningful in the telling of the story, even if this wasn't executed quite to perfection. The IGN review complains about the controls, but you have to understand that while a bit awkward and in a few short-lived moments annoying, the controls, as they are, are essential. As the game comes to its close, you will realize how genius the control scheme is for this game, on top of this already amazing piece of gameplay. You will not be disappointed when you work through that initial awkwardness to be rewarded with what Starbreeze Studios has created. Brothers borrows, and uses to its own positive effect, elements from Ico (bench vistas, the important sense of companionship and light puzzle solving), Journey (discovery and fantastic use of music) and others of the same vein. The themes of this game led me to have a similar emotional experience as I did with Journey, which is to say that the overall impact of this game moved me to tears. Brothers left me reflecting upon how we too can draw strength from the loved ones that we have lost in order to overcome obstacles in our own lives. I really can’t say anymore without ruining the game; it is a must play, only three hours long, and free for the time being on PlayStation Plus.

Bask in the beauty

6. Mass Effect Trilogy - ME1, ME2 & ME3 (PS3/Xbox 360 – 2007-12): I played through over 20 hours of the original Mass Effect and couldn't stand it anymore. The “elevator rides” and loading screens that took eternities and the really clunky combat ruined it for me. I found myself instead watching Mass Effect “the movie” on YouTube to enjoy the incredible story that I apparently had missed out on. It wasn't until my friend Troy convinced me to play Mass Effect 2 that everything clicked for me. Suddenly I understood what made Mass Effect so great: it’s the environment, stories and races, and most importantly the incredibly real characters that you meet along the way. The Paragon/Renegade choice system was a nifty way to make me care more about the characters in the game, and some of the ways that my choices played out over the course of the series made it all the more intriguing. The combat of Mass Effect 2 & 3 was far more palatable and makes for a mostly refined experience (while at the cost of some of the more interesting RPG elements of the first). I loved the time that I spent with Mass Effect, culminating in the fantastic Citadel DLC (which should have been a part of the original game to begin with, but oh well! Better late than never). The only reason that hot debate surrounds the different blunders and successes of Mass Effect is because of how deeply invested and engrossed we all became in the story and the characters along the way. That is what makes this series from developer BioWare so special.

SPOILERS FOR THE CITADEL DLC: Funniest moments from the DLC

5. Batman: Arkham City (PS3/Xbox 360 – 2011): Batman is my all-time favorite superhero. He has no superpowers, just abilities he has discovered and honed into finely-tuned weapons for the demise of those who would prey upon the innocent. By giving me the opportunity to play as Batman in Arkham Asylum I was beside myself with glee. However they upped the ante so much in Arkham City with the story, the villains, the surprise cameos, the twists and turns, and the improved abilities and crime scene investigation…I’d never felt more in tune with the Batman. It was empowering and invigorating. It was also the most wonderful farewell salute to longtime Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy and Joker voice actor Mark Hamill, who had voiced these characters in the animated series I’d grown up with. There was such a hole in my life after I finished this game that I had to go back for a second visit in New Game+ mode. While I am so incredibly happy with the continuation of the series in the underrated Arkham Origins and the fantastic new voice actors, it’s Arkham City that is the true king of the series. It is the Batman Arkham series that gives us gamers hope that there will yet be more great licensed games from other beloved franchises in the future.

SPOILERS: While Joker's rendition of "Only You" during the end credits is both sinister and darkly humorous, this version with the actual music is downright hilarious. Just try not and sing along! Thank you Mark Hamill!

4. Uncharted Series - U1:DF, U2:AT & U3:DD (PS3 – 2007-11): The gameplay of Tomb Raider meets the essence of Indiana Jones and the heart of the summer blockbuster. I didn't acquire a PS3 until a good ways into its life cycle. When I did, I got my hands not long after on a box set of Uncharted 1 & 2 for $20. I can’t think of a time where I got a better deal for my money. Suddenly I had roped all my friends into playing it with me, screaming at the TV, and all of us laughing alongside Nathan, Sully and Elena. Fun fact: to introduce people to the series, I load up Uncharted 3’s “Stowaway” chapter and hand them the controller with a very brief overview of the controls. Five minutes later when the chapter ends, I've converted another friend to Uncharted. We love this series so much that there really isn't much left to say than that. Thank you Naughty Dog for everything, seriously.

Here's my #1 reason to finally get a PlayStation 4. Well, this and Infamous Second Son...but mostly this

3. Bioshock Series - Bioshock, Bioshock 2 & Bioshock Infinite (PS3/Xbox 360 – 2007-13): "Would you kindly?" Never has a game punched me in the gut so hard as when the big revelation of Bioshock hit me. Up until that point the game had been great: a wonderfully eerie setting within the leaky walls of Rapture, the audio diaries telling the story of these people who had fallen from their ideals into insanity and depravity, the oddly terrifying yet perfect character design of the Big Daddies and their Little Sister companions, the plasmids and the gun upgrades. It was certainly aiming to be one of the best first person shooters I’d ever played. Then that moment happened and I was beside myself. How had I been so blind to what was going on? I felt manipulated and blown away at the same time. In that moment, the game became genius and I was compelled to explore the series in its entirety. I credit myself with involving all my friends in this series. Bioshock 2 was a welcome improvement on the combat system, with the fantastic opportunity to play as a Big Daddy and explore different nooks and crannies of Rapture, while fighting newer and more vicious enemies. Bioshock Infinite was a fantastic change of setting and story, including one of the most interesting AI companions in Elizabeth that I’d ever had the opportunity to play with. Add on top of that a royal mind-eff of a story that once again blew me away and you have one of the greatest gaming series ever created. I’m not sure what’s next for creator Ken Levine or all the amazingly talented developers and creators at the now defunct Irrational Games, but whatever they do I’ll be sure to keep a very close eye.

HUGE SPOILERS FOR BIOSHOCK: A man chooses...

2. Journey (PS3 – 2012): Journey can mean something different to everyone who plays it. To try and pigeonhole this fantastic experience by describing it is really doing it a disservice. Suffice to say that Journey is a very personal and spiritual odyssey that must be played. All I could add to it is my story with Journey. This April will mark the four year anniversary of my brother James’ passing. He left this life three weeks before I was to get married. At the moment of his passing there wasn't really a lot of time to process the cacophony of emotions that were brewing inside me. There were moments where I finally found it in myself to mourn his loss openly, but the death of such a close loved one, one who had battled various illnesses and disadvantages his whole life, made it so difficult to root out the despair entirely. Anyone who has gone through such a difficult life moment understands the importance of the moments of clarity – when sadness turns to understanding and peaceful acceptance. Everything else is laid to rest. Journey was that moment for me. As I neared the mountain and pushed against the snow storm alone, struggling past the grave markers along the way, I found myself vocally urging my avatar onward. I nearly broke in two when he collapsed into the snow. He was so weary from his journey. He had come so far and worked his way towards his goal only to die before reaching the summit. Then you see all the other white cloaked guides encircle your avatar and breathe new life into him as he launches towards the summit, breaking through the clouds and into the blue sky and sunlight…I was overcome and the tears flowed. Even still, I couldn't tear myself away. I couldn't stop now; not yet. Upon reaching the summit, my emotions had subsided and left a resonating peace in their wake. I had finally had my moment of clarity and laid it all to rest. It may seem silly or even pathetic to have had that experience with a video game, but I had that glorious experience regardless. Journey is an example of the power of this medium – an example of the emotional import that games can have on us. Creator Jenova Chen, developer thatgamecompany, composer Austin Wintory’s majestic work, and Sony’s bravery and genius in allowing this game to come to fruition – everything here is perfection. This is a two hour experience that even those who don’t like games should have.

IGN's wonderful 2012 Game of the Year video tribute to Journey and past GOTY winners

1. The Last of Us (PS3 – 2013): I can’t begin to talk about my favorite games without immediately mentioning the masterpiece that is The Last of Us. All future games from developer Naughty Dog will be compared against it, and all future games that aim to have a compelling, emotionally charged story will be held against it for measure as well. It is a game that has been at the center of 50% or more of my conversations on gaming this past year with friends and other gamers alike. The story of Joel and Ellie is one that sparks conversation about important and deep topics. What would I be willing to do to survive? What does it mean to survive? How important is my humanity to me? To others? What would I do to protect the innocence and humanity in those I love and hold dear? Would I risk loving anyone at all in a world that has gone so utterly to hell? What does this all mean for me in my life and my relationships with others? The funny thing about all these questions are that Naughty Dog never once asked them in the game. They’re there in the background, hiding behind characters’ motivations, actions, the things they say, the subtle facial expressions. No other game I can think of has made me ponder over it as much as The Last of Us. Of course, it would be easy to forget about these things if the gameplay was crummy, or the acting and cinematics didn't work, or the level design was poor, or any of the thousands of things that could go wrong with the game. Yet these are all polished to perfection and served up alongside a multiplayer component that has done surprisingly well. Being able to have played such as game as The Last of Us in my time as a gamer has made it all the more a rich and complete experience. Are there other games out there that are more fun than The Last of Us? Of course; yes. Any more important in our current generation of gaming? Not a single one.

The IGN staff does justice in explaining the importance of The Last of Us in their 2013 GOTY video

...and now for some games that deserve mention but didn't quite make the list...

25 Honorable Mentions (listed alphabetically)

Armed and Dangerous (Xbox – 2003): “Gimme da kish!” This game may have had some dull gameplay moments, but it is seriously, SERIOUSLY underrated when it came to weapon design and hilarious cut scenes. This game has so many laugh out loud moments that it deserves recognition. Name one other game that gives you a bomb that inverts the world and sends your enemies falling into the sky and then back down to earth, or a grenade launcher that shoots land sharks that hunt your enemies Jaws style?

Borderlands 2 (PS3/Xbox 360 – 2012): Probably the most fun I've had playing a first person shooter ever. Rare FPS co-op, variety in everything and humor to boot makes Borderlands 2 a must play experience. There’s plenty of loot to go around, especially after the year and a half plus worth of DLC Gearbox has created for the game. I’ll be playing this long into the coming years.

Chrono Trigger (SNES – 1995): I ended up playing this game on an emulator. I fell helplessly in love with the characters and their dialogue, as well as the fun battle system. Wonderful story. The fact that there is crazy replay value in this game with multiple endings only makes it better.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64 – 2001): A giant opera singing boss made of poo with corn for teeth. Seriously, need I say more? As a kid there was no other game I felt that my parents could never know about than Conker’s Bad Fur Day. Hilarious and so much fun. Even in recent years, I've looked back fondly and with some great laughs on the game.

Crash Bandicoot Series – CB, 2:CSB, CB:W & Crash Team Racing (PSOne/PS3 – 1996-99): More accessible to me than Mario 64 ever was and in more ways enjoyable. I played through all three games and enjoyed the challenges the games presented, and I still have Crash Bandicoot: Warped and Crash Team Racing on my PS3.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PS3 – 2011): I've not had the pleasure of playing previous iterations of Deus Ex, but Human Revolution had me at single player stealth action. I love the genre, but Deus Ex had a very interesting way of setting itself apart from the rest. Sure, the golden colors of the world around Adam Jensen and the futuristic setting are wonderful to explore. Sure, like other stealth games it gives you flexibility to approach any given situation in a number of ways that suits your play style. What sets Deus Ex: Human Revolution apart from the rest is its story and conflict. The thought and effort that went into this is real. The game says, “Here is a future debate that we will, more than likely given recent advancements in medical science, have to resolve. How do you resolve this problem that has such valid arguments on each side?” There is no choice A or B, but rather 1-4. The game makes you think not just strategy but makes you think about yourself and your values. Not many games are as bold to take such an approach, but Square Enix did it with HR and I’m all the more grateful for it.

God of War Series – GoW, GoW2 & GoW3 (PS3 – 2005-10): Nothing is so gruesomely satisfying as God of War. Following Kratos story from game one all the way to the final fight with Zeus in GoWIII, the story is a true Greco-Roman epic. While it could have been all blood and gore, revenge and rage, Santa Monica Studios was bold in their conclusion to Kratos story in GoWIII, weaving into the story a resolution involving hope, forgiveness, restitution for sin and heroic sacrifice for mankind.

GoldenEye 007 (N64 – 1997): The quintessential party shooter before Halo, and yet has a soul to it that Halo never captured, making GoldenEye 007 infinitely more fun in my opinion. Tons of different kinds of fun guns and characters. Not to mention all the modifications you could make to play plaint ball mode, Golden Guns only, big head mode, and so on. Go Oddjob!

Guitar Hero/Rock Band (PS2/Xbox 360 – 2007): Funny how a lot of my favorite games hold a place in my heart due to the experiences that I've had with friends through them. Guitar Hero and Rock Band were no different; we created entire parties surrounding them. My group of friends and I were able to live out our dreams of being rock stars and performing our favorite songs together. Before long we were becoming skilled enough that we were mastering entire songs on the hardest difficulties and celebrating together in all of our dorkiness.

Infamous 2 (PS3 – 2011): The first Infamous had a surprisingly great story and fantastic gameplay that caught me off-guard. Infamous 2 was the incredible improvement upon what made the first great and truly made me feel like a god among mortals. It was the process of becoming more omnipotent as the game progressed and an intriguing story that made for a climatic end. Do you fight for good or evil? What does that really mean? In the end, you will choose and the fate of the lives of everyone in the world will be decided along with it.

Jak and Daxter Series – J&D:TPL, Jak II & Jak 3 (PS2 – 2001-04): Another highly enjoyable entry from Naughty Dog that expanded on its original with open world mechanics and more mature content than the first. Moving on from Crash Bandicoot with this new IP was a great step forward for the developer and an enjoyable experience for those of us fortunate to have played it.

Joust (PC – 1982): I have memories playing this with my departed friend Jon Heining on the computer. A game about knights riding flying ostriches over random floating platforms and lava, breaking eggs and jousting each other, more with the feet of your steed than with your actual jousting weapon? It was dumb, weird, and incredibly fun.

Myst (PC – 1993): Game tutorials are commonplace in our generation of games. Sometimes they are necessary; sometimes they’re ridiculous. Then there are old school PC games like Myst. The booklet that accompanies the game says to click around with your mouse to move and examine objects. After that it gives you a bunch of blank pages for note taking. That’s it; good luck! It assumed you weren’t a complete idiot. Lack of internet connectivity and access to guides made the game a true challenge to figure out. The level of freedom in exploring Myst, figuring out its puzzles and mysteries for yourself at your pace, while taking in such a striking landscape was liberating. In my time as a gamer I've never played or seen another game like it. It is sad really, but I do hope that the current growth of the indie games community will help revive these kinds of thoughtful games.

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3 – 2013): Time to make a confession: I've not finished the game. I've put in a good 30 hours and still have probably more than 30 to go. So how is it that I can rate this game so highly? Well, I did the cheap thing and watched a gameplay/cinematic mash-up “movie” of Ni no Kuni on YouTube. The game plays out slowly and methodic, albeit enjoyable a-la RPG mechanics; the real story doesn't pick up speed until waaaaay into the game. That’s assuming that you only focus on the story at hand and ignore the majestic and endearing world around you, which is nigh impossible. The characters and the world are mesmerizing, and it turns out that the story, for a game seemingly directed towards younger audiences, is incredibly deep and mature. It is a story about love and loss, trying to repair mistakes that can never be mended, and the strength to accept life as it is and make it better. Ni no Kuni is incredibly powerful and moving, genuine and heartwarming, fun and wondrous.

Perfect Dark (N64 – 2000): Another first person shooter that found a way to be unique and crazy fun. With fantastic weapons like the laptop gun and the alien sniper rifle that could see and shoot through walls, the game was a multiplayer go-to for parties and lazy afternoons.

Rayman Legends (PS3 – 2013): Rayman Origins was a surprise; seemingly out of nowhere an awesome platformer showed up when they were almost entirely found on Nintendo or in the indie games market. It was fun, it was co-op friendly, and allowed griefing (slap!). It was a fantastic game to get friends together and remember the fantastic platformer games of yesteryear. Then Rayman Legends came out and introduced an improvement to the old formula. No, it wasn’t the motion controls (which are pretty overrated, I tell you) but the music coordinated levels. Never before had I thought I could play an entire Day of the Dead inspired level where my actions were choreographed to a mariachi rendition of “Eye of the Tiger.” Seriously who could imagine that? Well, Ubisoft did and I’m grateful because I’ve played the living daylights out of that level and the other amazing levels that Legends has to offer. The game will leave you grinning from ear to ear. I love it and I want so much more of it!

Resident Evil 4 (Nintendo GameCube – 2005): One of the best horror games I have ever played through and easily the most influential for the genre in recent years. The ominous environments, the genuinely creepy townsfolk, and the psychopaths with the chainsaws…I’d never known what it meant to run for my life until this game.

Siphon Filter Series – SF, SF2 & SF3 (PSOne – 1999-01): Before I ever knew how Metal Gear Solid could make you feel like a BA tactical soldier, I was first exposed to Siphon Filter. Running around in those trademark “diaper” pants, I enjoyed disarming bombs and taking down terrorists as Gabe. The missions were challenging and fun, with a sense of urgency that always kept you on the edge of your seat. It felt like playing through an entire episode of 24 every time.

Sonic the Hedgehog Series – SH1, SH2 & SH3 (Sega GameGear/Genesis – 1991-94): The first real handheld I ever owned was the Sega GameGear. It ate AA batteries like a mofo and weighed as much as a literal brick, but hey! No GameBoy green screen here! Sonic 1 & 2 were the games that consumed me the most with the GameGear until later when I played through Sonic 3 on the Genesis. Sonic to me was bigger and cooler than Mario for the longest time as a kid.

Spyro: Ripto’s Rage! (PSOne – 1999): Yet another game that got passed around my group of friends until we had all beaten it. Running, charging, and flying around as Spyro through the various levels and challenges was good fun when I was a kid. It was a sign of the great things to come for Insomniac.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES – 1996): A turn-based RPG with Mario and a crazy cast of new and old characters? What was there not to love? The story was bonkers and the gameplay kept you active during combat when most turn-based RPGs would have you sit and wait. Very enjoyable and underrated.

Super Mario World (SNES – 1990): How could you talk about the SNES era and not mention Super Mario World? Everything we loved about Mario, plus better graphics, color and the ability to ride a dinosaur that eats things, spits out fire and craps out mushrooms. Yes!

Super Smash Bros. (N64 – 1999): This game almost goes without saying, but I have to state my love for the very first Super Smash Bros. as my all-time favorite. I say this despite all the improvements of Melee and Brawl. The main reason: Kirby, my main man, was so incredibly OP in the first game, and then Nintendo almost completely neutered him (power-wise) in the later games. Even still, the entire series proves to be one of the smartest IP crossovers ever to have been created.

Tetris – (Nintendo GameBoy – 1989): The quintessential time killing, addictive puzzler. With the catchy original score playing behind the falling blocks, I found myself humming and thinking of Tetris long after I put it down.

You read to the bottom of this list! Surely you have games that you love that didn't make my list. Maybe I haven't played it yet! Sound off and make suggestions in the comments below. I'm eager to read them!